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Bachelor degree in Psychology
Although you can declare or change your major at any point in your college career, the earlier you do it, the easier it will be to meet the requirements for graduation .
If you decide to major in psychology it is recommended you officially apply to the psychology degree program. Although you take classes at KPC, you actually apply to the psychology degree program at UAA (we are an extension of the UAA psychology department). Once you are accepted into the program you are subject to the requirements for graduation for that catalog year, and not to subsequent changes in the program that can occur during the time you are completing your degree.
You can complete a full four-year degree in psychology at KPC
With good planning, you may be able to finish your degree in four years although it is likely to take somewhat longer. KPC offers all of the required core courses; however, some students may need to supplement upper division psychology electives with distance-delivered courses.
Students frequently ask whether they should seek a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in psychology. The answer is dependent on the student's long-term plans and personal preference and/or talents in particular areas. The BS degree has a much stronger concentration in the ‘hard' sciences and mathematics than does the BA, which is a more general liberal arts degree. Most psychology majors pursue the BA program. You may want to compare the requirements in each program, consider any classes you have taken to date, and areas of study for which you have a penchant when making your decision. The psychology requirements are the same for either degree. Speak with your academic advisor if you have questions about degree differences.
Minor in Psychology
Psychology serves as a practical minor to complement a major in another discipline. The following are the requirements for a Psychology Minor:
Complete a total of 18 credits in Psychology, of which 6 must be upper division. Of those 18 credits, you must meet the following requirements:
- PSY 111 General Psychology
- Three additional courses from the Psychology core requirements
- PSY 150 Life Span Development
- PSY 260 Statistics for Psychology
- PSY 261 Research Methods in Psychology
- PSY 345 Abnormal Psychology
- PSY 355 Learning and Cognition
- PSY 368 Personality
- PSY 370 Biological Psychology
- PSY 375 Social Psychology
- Two Additional Psychology Courses
Senior Exit Exam
One of the graduation requirements for psychology majors is to take the Senior Exit Exam prior to graduation. The exam is offered once each semester at UAA, but you may take the exam at KPC Kenai River Campus Learning Center when it is scheduled. Students should plan to take the exam the semester they plan to graduate. There is no cost for the exam when taken as scheduled.
UAA attempts to notify, in writing, students who have applied for graduation of the date, time, and location of the exam. However, it is strongly recommended you maintain contact with your academic advisor to keep abreast of when the exam is offered at KPC.
The Senior Exit Exam is a national standardized knowledge test of psychology that covers the eight core areas of study emphasized in the Psychology major requirements. The test consists of eight sections of 20 multiple choice questions each. The psychology topics covered in the exam include:
Scores provide a measurement of the overall knowledge base of graduating seniors and are used by Faculty in making program decisions. No minimum score is required but it is recommended students approach this requirement in the same manner as other testing situations (e.g. employ successful study strategies, establish study groups, etc.). For additional information students should contact their academic advisor.
Honors in Psychology
In order to meet UAA Departmental Honors requirements, students must plan well in advance to incorporate particular classes into their schedule (e.g. Psy 420 and 499 are not offered on a regular basis at KPC). It is strongly recommended you contact your advisor well in advance about the possibility of graduating with Departmental Honors.
To graduate with Departmental Honors, the student must be a declared Psychology Major and meet the following requirements:
Certificate of Completion Community Mental Health Services
The UAA Psychology Department offers this certificate for Psychology majors who plan to enter the Alaskan job market in psychology-related jobs. Courses completed for this certificate should provide knowledge and skill base, and practical experience that can benefit students entering mental health delivery services. Specific coursework to complete for this certificate are not currently offered at KPC. Students interested in pursuing this opportunity should direct their questions to Dr. Shelley A. Theno at the Kenai River Campus or Dr. Sue Coble at the Kachemak Bay Campus.
UAA Psychology Department website
Students must meet requirements of the degree as stipulated in the UAA catalog. Requirements posted on KPC psychology web pages are for informational purpose only.
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